By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer
On February 10, the Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) hosted an online discussion exploring the impact of Afrocentric values in public spaces throughout the Lower Mainland. The event, which is part of the organization’s “Building Belonging” series, featured a panel of community leaders who shared their experiences on what it means to be Black in Vancouver and discussed plans for the redevelopment of the historic Hogan’s Alley neighbourhood.
Founded in the early 20th century, Hogan’s Alley was a multiracial neighbourhood in Vancouver, known primarily as a Black cultural hub. Despite being a hub of Black Canadian culture, city officials often claimed the area was a “slum” and in need of urban renewal — an ideology that dominated post-war Vancouver. The area was demolished in 1967 to make way for the Georgia Viaduct — a small part of a larger plan to construct freeways throughout the city.
Plans to rezone the viaduct and revive Hogan’s Alley have been proposed throughout the years. In 2021, Vancouver City Council approved the rezoning of a plot of land in Chinatown which contained historic structures important to Vancouver’s Black community. The following year saw the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding between the Hogan’s Alley Society and the City relating to land redevelopment in the area.
With the area receiving a new lease on life, the Hogan’s Alley Society has worked on incorporating Afrocentric design standards into their development process. Afrocentric values in design centre African cultural understanding and engagement with the local environment into the architectural process. Panel moderator Michelle Fenton, who is a local architect, noted the unique nature of planning for the society:
“We didn’t really know what Afrocentric design standards in the Pacific Northwest meant — and so as a community, we developed that together.”
— Michelle Fenton, panel moderator and founding partner of Khora Architecture
Blending Afrocentric values into a colonial environment was a key topic of discussion for the panel. Panel members highlighted the ongoing trauma faced by Black Canadians as a result of colonialism. Specifically, panellist Kendra Coupland pointed out that Afrocentric values can differ on an individual basis and that working in a colonial context impacts them. “For most people across Canada — regardless of race, regardless of gender — we live in a society that makes it very difficult to just be in a body.” She said, “We kind of learned to be disconnected from our bodies in so many different ways that it makes it so difficult. So for me, the challenge is ‘how do I create spaces within the larger context that we live in where people can actually practise agencies within themselves?’” This connects to a larger principle in Afrocentric values of being connected to one’s culture and body as a result of colonization.
The panel touched on the lack of specificity seen historically in building standards in areas that predominantly have a minority population. The panellists argued it left these areas at great disadvantage, which the HAS aimed to correct in its redevelopment of Hogan’s Alley. Panel member Tura Cousins Wilson said, “If you’re not designing with a specific community in mind, or group, or individual, it’s hard to get specific — and when it’s difficult to get specific, it’s hard to truly be authentic in the design.”
Following the panel’s discussion, the HAS named the five different design standards that have been instrumental in the redevelopment of Hogan’s Alley. HAS’ first standard highlighted the need for buildings to feel authentic to cultural ties in order for residents to feel they belong there. This ties into the second design process, which aims to construct buildings that “embodied the collective expression of the African and Caribbean diaspora.”
HAS’ third standard aimed to make any building in the new development meet accessibility standards and be adaptable to those who live there. The second-to-last standard highlights HAS’ goal to create a place for voices to be highlighted, and the last standard aimed to highlight reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
